MIA Awards 2014: MusicRadar Innovation of the Year Award

Our shortlist of groundbreaking guitar, tech and drum products

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A 100-watt amp in a pedal

BluGuitar Amp1

If there'd never been any innovation in the world of musical instruments, we'd still be jamming on bone flutes and making beats by hitting rocks with a stick. Forward-thinking minds are worth celebrating, then, and that's what we're doing with the inaugural MusicRadar Innovation Award.

Brought to you in association with the MIA, this award is designed to recognise the most groundbreaking guitar, tech and drum products from the past 12 months. The winner will be announced at the MIA Awards on 18 November.

Browse through our gallery to see (in alphabetical order) the products that have made the shortlist. These were nominated by MusicRadar and the MIA's members. First up, it's the BluGuitar Amp1.

Our verdict

"We’ve seen several floor-standing pedalboard-type amps in the last couple of years, but Bluguitar’s Amp1 is in a completely different league, combining great tone and useful features with the simplicity of a classic vintage head."

Full review coming soon

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Listen to your favourite tracks and play along with them on your guitar

Line 6 AMPLIFi 150

Our verdict

“Putting a music playback system and a versatile guitar amp in a single box is a mad/genius idea that actually works, and works well”

Ohm Force Ohm Studio

Our verdict

"While its operation as a DAW is basic, we're hugely enthusiastic about this ground- breaking online collaboration platform. It's got a long way to go but, for now, there's no other DAW that can do what Ohm Studio does."

Rotosound foil packaging

Rotosound says

"The new innovative, air-tight packaging is made from foil. It provides an unparalleled moisture barrier ensuring strings will not tarnish or fade while in the packs, keeping them factory fresh until ready for use. The stable environment provided by these new packets ensures that the strings factory freshness is maintained until opened. The packaging has also been reduced by 90%, making the new packets incredibly eco-friendly.

TheGigRig G2

Our verdict

“There exists a vast tonal and price chasm between an average digital multi-effects device and a custom-built professional rig control system. G2 - with the right pedals - helps you sound more like the latter, but costs closer to the former, making it the pro-playing effects junkie's no-brainer of the year”.